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Tag Archives: Luc Castaignos

As always, another year where I don’t actually post anything but I do do this.

It’s been a difficult year for Sporting with a season that ended too early and a transfer policy that reeked of prime Godinho Lopes. However, the were some bright spots and some reason for optimism for next year.

Worst Signing of the Season: Luc Castaignos – It’s been a difficult choice to pick just one player out to be the worst. You have Elias, Lazar Markovic, Marcelo Meli, André, Joel Campbell and Radosav Petrović. There can be a case made for each of those players. However, Luc Castaignos is the only one of those players who made it past January, and I can only assume that is because no other club wanted to take him of our hands. The once promising Dutch forward had an excellent chance to reignite his career in Portugal but could barely even get into a scoring position when given the chance. On the rare times he did get into a good position for a chance it inevitably went high and wide. A total dud.Runners Up: 2. Lazar Markovic (Possibly an undercover agent), 3. Elias (It was worth a try)2016: 1. Hernán Barcos, 2. Michaël Ciani, 3. Bruno Paulista2015: 1. Simeon Slavchev, 2. Naby Sarr, 3. Ramy Rabia2014: 1. Gérson Magrão, 2. Welder, 3. Iván Piris2013: 1. Khalid Boulahrouz, 2. Danijel Pranjic, 3. Gelson Fernandes2012: 1. Valeri Bojinov, 2. Luis Aguiar, 3. Elias

Best Signing of the Season: Bas Dost – It was always going to be tough to fill in for the departing Islam Slimani. Bas Dost came in form an average season in Germany with Wolfsburg but was quick to settle in to life in Portugal. Under Jorge Jesus his link up play has improved greatly as the season progressed. His aerial presence and strikers instinct are what was helped him racked up the goals all season long. Currently, he’s looking even better after forming an exciting and mildly amusing Arnie / DeVito tribute act. If he can replicate this form next season it will be something.Runners Up: 2. Beto (A superb backup to Rui Patrício), 2. Gelson Dala (A very exciting prospect)2016: 1. Jorge Jesus, 2. Bryan Ruiz, 3. Bruno César2015: 1. Paulo Oliveira, 2. Nani, 3. Ewerton2014: 1. Leonardo Jardim, 2. Islam Slimani, 3. Jefferson2013: 1. Fabrice Fokobo, 2. Marcos Rojo, 3. Zakaria Labyad2012: 1. Stijn Schaars, 2. Ricky van Wolfswinkel, 3. Emiliano Insúa

Next is a new award I have just made up. This season whilst some trash signings were taking up spaces there were improvements waiting for game time.

Most Under-utilised Player: Paulo Oliveira – Although Sebastián Coates was solid all season, Rúben Semedo was hot and cold. When he was good, he was excellent however when he was poor he was a massive liability. Paulo Oliveira however has always been an assured player and perhaps suffers from his relative lack of size and strength in comparison to Semedo, something Jorge Jesus seems to value in his centre-backs. He’s an intelligent defender and it would be a shame for him to leave in summer whilst pursing game time, especially after the signing of André Pinto from Braga.Runners Up: 2. Ricardo Esgaio (Out of position at left back, he was still better than Jefferson and Marvin), 3. Matheus Pereira (When he played he was better than all our other wingers except Gelson)Bonus Answer: Ryan Gauld

U23 Player of the Season: Gelson Martins – When times have been tough this season there has always been something to admire in watching Gelson Martins play. His game is natural which can mean he occasionally does something that looks stupid, however, it also means he can do outrageous pieces of skill and become our most powerful creative force. Hopefully Gelson (rumoured with every big club) sticks around for at least one more season to really develop further as a player.Runners Up: 2. Daniel Podence, 3. Matheus Pereira2016: 1. João Mário, 2. Gelson Martins, 3. Carlos Mané2015: 1. Paulo Oliveira, 2. João Mário, 3. Carlos Mané2014: 1. William Carvalho, 2. Carlos Mané, 3. André Carrillo2013: 1. André Martins, 2. Eric Dier, 3. Tiago Ilori2012: 1. Ricky van Wolfswinkel, 2. André Martins, 3. André Carrillo

B Team Player of the Season: Gelson Dala – Yes, he only arrived in January but when he came Sporting B were struggling in a relegation scrap and it looked like perhaps the first team would all have to chip in to prevent a disaster. However, with the arrival of Gelson Dala there seemed to be a player who was a level ahead of everyone else. It was no surprise he was pushing for the first team by the end of the season after his fantastic goal scoring record and eye-catching performances.Runners Up: 2. Leonardo Ruiz, 3. Ivanildo Fernandes2016: 1. Daniel Podence, 2. Francisco Geraldes, 3. Matheus Pereira2015: 1. Wallyson Mallmann, 2. Gelson Martins, 3. Ryan Gauld2014: 1. Ricardo Esgaio, 2. Iuri Medeiros, 3. Wallyson Mallmann2013: 1. Ricardo Esgaio, 2. Eric Dier, 3. Bruma

The squad for Sporting’s Champions League campaign has been announced. UEFA has yet to publish the “B” list, meaning some youth team players like Matheus Pereira and Gelson Martins don’t feature but that should follow shortly.

All of the new signings feature, the only missing name from the first team squad proper is goalkeeper Ažbe Jug.

It was a very busy weekend off the pitch as as as Sporting completed 3 transfer deals.

First, Bas Dost signed from Wolfsburg on a 4-year contract with a €60,000,000 release clause. The Dutch striker will certainly become the replace to Islam Sllimani, with the Algerian set to depart. The transfer fee is believed to be in the region of €10m. Bas Dost scored 47 goals in 115 appearances for Wolfsburg and has so far made 6 appearances for the Netherlands national team.

Pedro Delgado signed from Internazionale with Sporting holding 50% of the rights of the player. The 19-year old signs a 2-year contract with an option for 3 more and a release clause of €45,000,000. Delgado, who briefly played for Sporting’s youth system as well as with Portimonense will begin at the B team.

Delgado could make his debut for the B team later today in the game against Vizela.

In what will presumably be Sporting’s last transfer of the season Luc Castaignos joined from Eintracht Frankfurt. The Dutch forward signs a 3 year contract with the option of 2 more and a release clause of €60,000,000. No word yet of a transfer fee, but along with André and Joel Campbell, Castaignos is another reinforcement to what will be a brand new attacking line-up for Jorge Jesus. Castaignos scored 5 goals in 17 games in Germany last season.

Islam Slimani looked set to complete his move to Leicester City. The club’s chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, was apparently at the Alvalade during the game against Porto to complete the move.

Finally, Carlos Mané has apparently agreed to a 2-year loan to Stuttgart. Mané came off from the bench against Porto but has found game time difficult to come by at Sporting the arrival of Jorge Jesus and the emergence of Gelson Martins.

João Mário is in Milan to complete his signing with Internazionale. The two clubs seem to have finally come to an agreement and, presumably, Inter have managed to make the transfer work whilst still agreeing with Financial Fair Play. The transfer should be made official soon.

The signing of Pedro Delgado from Inter is also nearly complete. The player is apparently in Lisbon completing his medical. The player has apparently had other proposals from clubs in England and Italy but is set to return to Sporting, where he previously featured at youth level.

Sporting are apparently close to completing the signing of Luc Castaignos from Eintracht Frankfurt. The Dutch striker, who turns 24 in September, will be signing for a fee believed to be between €2.5m and €3m according to Mais Futebol. The signing of Castaignos would certainly make Islam Slimani’s departure a more likely outcome. Indeed, France Football were reporting that Leicester City want to up their bid for the Algerian striker.

Naldo has left Sporting to join Krasnodar on a permanent transfer. It was initially believed to be a loan deal but the Russian club have signed the player for 4 seasons. Once again, no word yet of a transfer fee.

One transfer fee we do know is that Douglas Teixeira joined Sporting for €1m, aaccording to Trabzonspor themselves. If Douglas is the replacement to Naldo, it looks like Sporting may have made a profit with that one.